About the Cultural Heritage Institute: 

The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR), hosted in partnership with the Laramie County Library, will launch a new one-day, in-person professional development gathering designed to equip cultural employees, site and museum staff, and volunteers with practical skills in preservation and collections care.

The event will provide a foundation in core practices across museums, archives, historic sites, and arts programs. This is an opportunity for participants to gain practical knowledge and professional growth through sessions, discussions, and networking centered on how cultural collections and programs are cared for, interpreted, and shared within the state's shared history, arts, and cultural network. 

The Cultural Heritage Institute is seeking volunteers to lead workshops and lightning talks focused on practical cultural heritage work, including preservation, collections care, digitization, interpretation, and related topics. Individuals with relevant expertise or proposed session ideas are encouraged to submit a brief interest form by March 31, 2026 at Bit.ly/LeadAWorkshop. 

This initiative is made possible through funding from State Parks and Cultural Resources’ Spark Tank Program, an internal fund that supports SPCR staff in developing and testing innovative ideas to advance the department’s mission. The event is being organized collaboratively by SPCR programs, including the Arts Council, Cultural Trust Fund, Office of the State Archaeologist, State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office, State Museum, State Parks, and Historic Sites.

Attendance will be free, with registration required. Registration is limited to 50 participants and will be available in early 2026.